SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – The Department of Health Center for Health Development in Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) has recorded 8,539 cases of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the province of La Union as of Nov. 17.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, DOH-CHD-1 regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco said the agency and the local government units (LGUs) of the province are providing interventions to members of DM clubs, such as diabetes education, coaching including social support to improve diabetes testing and monitoring, medication adherence, diet and physical activity or weight management.
“Ang mga health workers naman natin ay nagbibigay ng mga one-on-one interactions or group sessions sa mga miyembro upang sila ay mabigyan pa ng karagdagang impormasyon patungkol sa sakit na diabetes (Our health workers give one-on-one interactions or group sessions to the members so that they will be given additional information about diabetes),” she said.
Sydiongco also encouraged individuals to exercise regularly, be more active and lose extra weight to reduce the risk of diabetes, and most important to practice a healthy lifestyle to prevent the onset of any illness.
Based on the data provided by the Regional Non-Communicable Disease Unit, of the total number of patients, 1,981 are from San Fernando City, followed by the municipalities of San Juan with 836, Naguilian with 800, Bauang with 716 and Agoo with 700.
Sydiongco said the LGUs and the DOH-CHD-1 provided free tests and medicines to the patients during World Diabetes Day last week with the objective of increasing awareness on the effects of diabetes and the complications caused by the disease.
Regional Non-Communicable Disease Unit regional program manager of essential non-communicable disease Erwin Baclig Jr. said the yearly event provides an opportunity to disseminate information to individuals pertaining to diabetes, diet and prevention and control of the disease. (PNA)
